Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Par Tout Autre Nom ❯ Stranger than Fiction ( Chapter 40 )

Disclaimers: Inuyasha and Yu Yu Hakusho belong respectively to Rumiko Takahashi and Yoshihiro Togashi.

A/N: -winces and faceplants- Okay, normally when I say the length of the chapter got away from me it's only a page or two… this one really went above and beyond, so be warned. It's an uber beast. No matter where I wanted to cut it off, it just continued to be all elusive and evil. And if I'd cut it off in the only spot it wouldn't disrupt flow I would have broken my pattern and that just didn't fly right by the glaring muses. But it all needed to be done anyway, so I just finally gave up and let the chapter flow the way it wanted. Don't think I'm going to be able to finish it in under 50 without making it seemed rushed, so what the heck. -shrugs- It'll be over when it's over, I suppose. LOL ^__^

Ahhhh, best part. Passin' out the loves. -laughs- I'm in a weird mood, and probably a little drunk, so don't mind me. (Yes, I'm of appropriate legal age for such things) BUT! I'm digressing. To all over you, my addicts and junkies, my uber chat buddies, reviewers, and readers. You guys are wonderful and fabulous and I love you so much! You pick me up every day with everything you say, you have no idea how much. -sparkles- And so many ideas on where I was going with this chapter! Heh heh… But I guess you just have to read to find out if you were right or not, ne? I know you're getting antsy for certain things that you seem to be torturing yourselves speculating over, but just remember that patience is a virtue! -momentarily wonders why she suddenly got a chill- Hn… strange…

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By Any Other Name

~Stranger than Fiction~

Those all-too familiar eyes filled with tender warmth, lips spreading in that charming smile that shot an automatic jolt of feeling straight to Kagome's soul as the rosary-bound hand lifted to touch her cheek reverently, "I have missed seeing your eyes looking up at me for so very long, my beautiful Kagome."

Kagome's mouth worked soundlessly, her lips trembling while her eyes went soft and liquid under the rush of unshed tears until she managed to whisper hesitantly, "Miroku… Am- am I-? Am I dreaming?"

Miroku slowly shook his head, bringing his other hand up to cup her face and tilt it upwards to press a soft, lingering kiss on her parted lips before he answered just as quietly, "No."

"B-but how?!" her hands came up to curl over his wrists, trembling when she felt the very real warmth of his skin against hers, and the smooth bite of the beads digging into her palm.

"A great many things can change in five hundred years," his voice filled with amused affection, eyes almost closing when he smiled wider at her stunned expression. Unable to resist teasing her a little, he released her face to tap one finger on the tip of her nose, "You should know more than anyone that nothing is impossible."

Kagome let out a choked sob, shoving his hands open wide and practically throwing herself at his chest with her arms snaking around his neck to hold him as close as physically possible, "I'm so sorry!"

Miroku's arms came around her, lifting her up effortlessly to sit her in his lap and cuddle her close as he rocked her back and forth. Letting her bury her face against his throat, he rested his chin on her head and slowly sifted his fingers through her hair until he felt her start to calm, "Shh… Don't cry, Kagome. You know we could never stand to see you crying."

"But I hurt you," Kagome clenched her jaw, shaking her head to and hissing at her soul to calm down when it warmed and tried to reach out to pull him even closer. "I hurt myself… I'm so stupid. I thought I could stop it from taking me back, and-!"

"None of us knew what would happen," he reassured her gently. "And we did know that there was a chance the well would take you back when Inuyasha wished, even if we all had our hopes… But never think that there was blame for you in our thoughts."

Kagome had to remind herself to breathe, something inside her terrified that this was just an illusion, a dream she was going to wake up from, "I didn't want to leave."

"I know, my little wife, I know," Miroku pressed a kiss to her forehead, sighing deeply as he looked up at the stars. "I didn't intend to cause you this pain by visiting you this way."

"It's nothing," she hurried to assure him, shaking her head as she finally convinced her body to lean back and let her look up at his face more easily. "I'd rather see you, no matter what happens because of it. But how are you-? What did-? How are you here now?" she finally settled on that being the most pressing question, eyes wide and searching on his face.

Miroku's spine straightened, his expression changing to that aloof pride he could affect so very well, "When one is offered a position as a higher god, Kagome, there are a great number of things that become possible. Manifestation just happens to be one of those things."

"A higher-?" was as far as Kagome got before she burst out laughing, the shadows fleeing from her eyes under the wave of delight that swept through her. She unwound her arms from the monk's neck, holding her aching sides as the tears continued to slide down her cheeks until she managed to get herself under control enough to ask for clarification, "A god? You're a god?"

"Sango has also been given such an honorable distinction," his chest expanded in almost boyish preening as he drew her closer again, sliding his hands into her hair when his voice lowered to the timbre she often head heard intimately. "What a family we have created, Kagome."

The smile she graced him with was nearly blinding, "You're still very cute when you're preening, Miroku."

"I have every reason to be proud of our accomplishments as you well know," he scolded lightly, urging away the last of the sorrow that had clung to her so strongly. "And did I not say that becoming my wife would be a truly spiritual experience? A holy, transcendent meeting of our souls? Having the children of a god takes a very special woman, after all."

The laughter came easier this time as Kagome swatted him upside the head teasingly, "I didn't realize they had a place for a pervert like you."

"The afterlife knows when they have found a perfect candidate for ascension," Miroku held up his hand in a classic prayer-pose, closing his eyes for a brief moment before cracking one open to watch her face.

"It would serve you right if you became the patron god of childbirth," Kagome drawled out, cocking her head to one side as she watched the mischievous sparkle light in his gaze.

"Nothing so messy and disturbing," he shook his head, smiling as he recalled his less-than-calm reaction to her first labor. "How do you think I was able to make you, a perfect reader of souls, believe you were feeling Shinju, my lovely wife? I have become the God of Deception."

Kagome was half afraid the laughter that little gem of information started would wake the entire house, loudly echoing off the trees in the stillness of the night as she nearly doubled over at the way her abdominal muscles tried to spasm in protest to the violent action.

"It is not polite to laugh at your husband whom you love and respect," Miroku was smiling at her as she wound down, making his tone into that familiar whine he usually only used when reiterating how "holy" he was. Cupping her face in one hand, he wiped away the tear tracks with his thumb and murmured, "Sango was given Vengeance."

"Vengeance and Deception?" Kagome tried to get her smile under control, but it continued to defy her best efforts.

"We are a highly feared pair," he dipped his head in acknowledgement.

That got a quieter snicker out of her as she imagined just what kind of hell the two of them could cause when they were actually working together, eyes alight with new happiness, "I can well imagine."

"I have even recently acquired a group of detectives for my own personal use," Miroku's smile had her arching an eyebrow, effortlessly recalling the emotions generally associated with that particular look.

"Do I really want to know how you managed to steal a group of people?" Kagome couldn't quite keep the incredulous note from her voice, helplessly impressed that he could accomplish such a feat. But at the same time, she couldn't help but think to herself that if anyone were to do such a thing, she wasn't surprised that it was Miroku, "And what do you mean your `personal use-?' Actually, forget it. I don't think I need to know."

Miroku chuckled at her own rush to stop him from expounding on his acquisition, tightening his hold on her to lift her up and make it easier for him to nuzzle the side of her neck, "Sango and I have taken great pains to be certain that our family is safe from prying eyes and suspicious gods. It simply would not do to allow our descendants to become entertainment for some foolish creatures who do not respect the sacrifices we have made."

"Always prepared," her eyes closed again, trusting her control enough now to sweep out her aura and wrap around him inside and out the way she always had. The sheer force of his soul now, however, nearly floored her, washing through her system with all the subtlety of a tsunami until he made a soft tsking sound and stopped the flow of power.

"As much as it warms my heart to feel you in my soul this way, my lovely wife, you must be more careful," he chided her gently, curling his finger under her chin to turn her glowing eyes up on him. "I am no longer a man, and I do not care to risk purifying you out of existence by giving you such an imbalance of holy power."

"Sesshoumaru's close, he can give me back the youki I need if I get sick," Kagome's lips curved upwards as she pressed her hand over his heart, her soul struggling to learn the new sensation and manipulate it back into a smooth vibration. Her eyes finally flashed, shoulders slumping as the internal battle eased and left her slightly numb, "I missed you, Miroku."

"I know," Miroku moved his hand to cup her cheek, smiling again when she curled her hands around his to hold it against her skin.

She pinched him, "That's your cue to say you missed me too."

"You didn't say it back to me the first time I said it," he protested, eyes sparkling to show he was playing with her.

"Wives automatically have immunity from giving the same constant reassurance," Kagome turned her nose up loftily. "It's an understood fact given the greater tendency to display emotions and-"

Miroku cut her off with a delighted chuckle, pressing his fingers over her lips to stop her from going off on a tangent he had more or less taught her to perfect, "I see you still indulge in the family method of dodging arguments you know you're going to lose."

Just as she had so often in the past nights together, Kagome made her eyes wide and innocent, splaying her fingers over her heart in a mimicry of his own behavior, "Dodging? I would never think to do such a thing, Miroku! Especially not to my handsome, clever husband."

"Hm," he arched an eyebrow, cracking through her attempt to hold that expression and laughing again when she started to giggle. "You still forget that I taught you everything you know of such performances."

"But you still let me win sometimes," the familiarity of the scene washed peace through her badly upset nerves, the energy she'd absorbed from him smoothing over the last remnants of distortion from Hiei's tangled emotions to balance her out. Her eyes closed, a shiver running down her spine as he tucked her against him carefully, "How do you do that to me still?"

Miroku rubbed his cheek against the side of her head, trailing his hand up and down her back as he waited patiently for her soul to finish settling, "Did you think I would forget how to calm you just because I died five hundred years before your birth?" He reached down to grip her hand, lifting it to press her palm below his throat in reminder, "I was the only human who knew you intimately, the only human who was able to share your soul with your youkai carriers, Kagome. Such memories are not so easily banished by simple mortality."

She turned her face, pressing her forehead against the side of his neck as her hand came up to loosely grasp his shoulder, "I wish you had been wrong, you know. When you told me how it would feel after I'd been with you, and had you taken away."

His hand dropped down to give her backside a squeeze, deeper emotions turning his eyes nearly black as his smile took on a familiar edge, "Ah, my sweet wife, that is truly a pain I wish I could spare you." He let out a regretful sigh and winked at her, "But it would be unfair to you if I forced you to remain tied to the past so intimately when it is time for you to be moving forward."

Kagome's eyes widened, slowly sitting up to stare at him in confusion at the meaning behind those words, "Time for me to-? What are you talking about?"

Miroku made a motion with his hand, leaning back as though there was something more substantial than air to brace his weight as he picked her up and rearranged her to sit straddling his lap comfortably. For a long moment he simply stared at her, holding her in the loose circle of his arms as his eyes danced with so many thoughts and feelings that not even she could filter them all, "I have not been fair to you as I should have been, Kagome. And in this failing was the only regret I carried with me into the afterlife."

Kagome's head tilted in a subconscious show of her uncertainty, reaching out to stroke her fingers along his jaw before she cupped his face in an effort to comfort the very old pain in his gaze that he attempted to hide, "You were always fair to me, Miroku. There was nothing for you to regret-"

His hand covered her own again, turning to press a kiss to her palm before he whispered against the sensitive skin, "I did not deserve you."

"Oh hell, Miroku, don't start in with that," she drew a shuddering breath at the sudden flash of déjà vu, the overlapping image of an awestruck Miroku cradling his first son close and saying those very words to her in such a breathless voice. "Never think that. You deserved everything you had and more."

Miroku sighed deeply, shaking his head as he squeezed her hand and brought it down over the image still ingrained in his soul, the mark of the carriers of the Shikon-no-Tama, "I am a selfish man, Kagome. But I did not realize how very much until I watched you fade before my eyes that day."

Something in his voice kept her silent this time, her eyes searching his face as she waited for what she could see him trying to put into words, Miroku… Miroku almost never has troubles finding words. This is serious.

"Even after I watched Inuyasha make the same mistake over and over, I fell into the same trap. And by the time I realized it, it was too late," regret turned those eyes a deep shade of indigo as he traced his fingers up her arm to lovingly follow her neck up to her jaw. "But even so, you never once looked at me with anger or hate, any more than you did to him. Your arms were always open; you became my wife when your heart had belonged to another just because I needed you. And you bore me two beautiful, perfect sons knowing you could be taken away from us in the end."

Kagome felt the tears sting her eyes, biting down on her tongue in an effort to keep them away, the admiration in his touch and voice almost too much for her soul to bear after being without it for so long.

His hand slid into her hair, drawing her closer until he could touch his forehead to hers, head bowed and eyes almost complete shut as he whispered softly, "You gave me everything you had, and I was foolish enough to let you think I had not given you the same."

Kagome went still, eyes opening in shock, What?

"I had not understood," his hand tightened when he sensed the change in her aura, stopping her from pulling back to stare at him before he had said the words that he had held inside him through the centuries. "For all that I prided myself in my intelligence, in the family I had created, I did not realize that you needed to hear that I loved you just as deeply as I loved Sango."

Now he let her lean away, his smile slightly pained as he reached up to brush away the tears silently escaping her glittering eyes, "Miroku-"

"Loving Sango did not mean that there was no room for you in my heart, or that you were second best to my eyes, my precious Kagome," Miroku cupped her face in his hands, wanting to be certain she was seeing the truth in his face and feeling it in his aura. "I watched Inuyasha make that mistake with you over and over with Kikyou when he could have told you at any time that his love wasn't any less intense simply because he still held feelings for another. I remember thinking how foolish he was, letting you think he was incapable of holding more than one person dear to his heart when you had shown him differently… but my mistake was so much deeper than his."

"I knew you and Sango loved me," Kagome tried to shake her head, instinctively needing to banish the sorrow filling his expression, but he refused to release her.

Miroku brushed his lips over her forehead before he leaned back, trusting himself to continue, "Sango loved you as deeply as she was capable, and she told you. But I never told you I was just as in love with you as I was with her."

Kagome wasn't aware of the way she had started to shake, mouth opening and closing again as she struggled for something to say to that admission.

"You were nearly as different as night and day," he sighed dreamily, dipping his head to kiss the tip of her nose next. "But I loved all of it. My wives made me feel whole, complete in a way I had never thought possible until I had you. You and Sango made me so happy, Kagome, and I never told you how truly special you were when I had the chance. That was my regret."

"Why-?" Kagome finally managed to whisper out, squeezing her eyes closed as he voice broke under the rush of emotion nearly closing her throat. The nearly heart-breaking flood of pain and pleasure overflowing her soul as she reached out, sliding her arms around his back and clinging to him as she again buried her face against his chest, "Why are you saying this?"

Miroku wrapped his arms around her shaking body, murmuring nonsense to her until he felt the sharp edge of pain in her aura easing, "Because it's time someone told you they loved you without you having to question their obligations to another; without thinking that you will never be the first. It is not fair to you to think you are destined to share the men you choose to love forever."

"I liked sharing with Sango," Kagome admitted in a quiet voice.

He couldn't help but give her a warm, openly loving smile, squeezing her tighter at the candid admission, "Our family is special that way. But the peace we had does not often come when a new wife is taken, and it is even more rare that love is mutual between all three. However, in this time… in your time, my lovely wife, things are done differently. And it is well past time for you to be selfish with your affections."

Kagome was looking at him suspiciously as she got herself back under control with his help and sat up, brushing at the tears making a few more stubborn paths down her cheeks when she blinked, "Miroku… you know I don't trust that tone of voice or that smile coming from you."

Miroku instantly pasted on his most innocent expression, even going so far as to lift his hand in his blessing pose despite still having her on his lap and his other lightly rubbing her backside, "What smile?"

One eyebrow kicked up.

"You have been spending entirely too much time with Sesshoumaru," he clucked his tongue, but the lofty expression melted rapidly into that same adoration that never failed to send warmth straight to her toes. "But as much as I never thought I'd say it, he's good for you. Stable, unselfish in his control… Too powerful for his own good."

"There is a good reason he's my master carrier," Kagome's smile was faintly nostalgic as she lifted a finger to tap the symbol below his throat again. "He said it best to me a few weeks back. No matter where I go, I have to return to him, like the sunset to the west. He's… comforting to my soul, and no one has more control over their own power than Sesshoumaru. But you aren't getting away with a topic change that easily, Houshi-sama, so don't even try it."

Miroku pouted, but the slight tightening of his hands clearly showed he was more proud than upset that she stayed on track, "You and Sango never did fall for my skills."

"We know you too well," she winked at him.

"Indeed," he wound his arms back around her waist and pulled her up until her chest was pressed snugly against his. "Nothing is more satisfying to a man than to have two beautiful, crafty, powerful women who love him and bear him the most perfect of children."

"Stop sweet-talking me and tell me what you meant by saying I'm supposed to be selfish," Kagome chuckled and gave him a swat, but let herself be cuddled up against his chest again without a single protest.

Miroku was quiet a moment, sliding his fingers through her hair in long, even strokes as he seemed to collect his thoughts before turning serious and asking her quietly, "Do you trust me, Kagome?"

"That's a silly question, Miroku, you know I do," Kagome peeked one eye open to look up, smiling warmly when she saw his gaze was back up on the stars again. "I've always trusted you."

"And you trust that I would never hurt you?"

Kagome's brows furrowed at the note of real concern in his voice, sliding her arms around him to tighten the embrace, "I've never doubted that."

"And that I would never guide anyone to you who would hurt you?" Miroku's voice lowered, one hand moving up to press between her shoulder blades and feel the way the skin heated at the familiar touch.

Guide… anyone? Kagome's mouth opened and closed just as quickly as her mind raced with the implications that seemed to hover just below his words.

"No one knows you better than I do, my lovely wife," he seemed to see into her thoughts, especially with the smile she could hear in his whisper-soft murmur. "No one else could fully comprehend what you need to heal your heart."

Kagome leaned back, straightening her spine as she met his gaze dead on.

Miroku gave her another innocent smile.

"Kurama."

Miroku made a sound disturbingly close to a snicker before he switched into his priest tones and offered, "The kitsune known as Youko Kurama may have had a moment of… divine intervention to guide his eyes in the direction his soul needed to look."

Kagome covered her eyes with one hand, realization sending a wave of mortification through her, "Oh my gods… You're matchmaking!" No wonder I've felt so comfortable with him from the start, Miroku practically hand picked him!

"I like him," Miroku nodded sagely, linking his fingers together behind the small of her back to give her more support when she slumped and groaned. "Especially the way he thinks."

"I knew he was a pervert," she muttered, but she could feel the laughter dying to bubble up out of her as the idea slowly sunk in. Her husband of the past picking out a youkai he had deemed worthy of being with her in the future… "I don't believe this."

"He is quite taken with you," Miroku prodded her with a sly gleam in his eyes. "Very possessive from what I've seen, just the way you like them."

Kagome's lips were definitely twitching as she swatted at him again, "Stop that!"

"What?" his expression was right back to innocence.

"Miroku, you just told me about your feelings, how much you loved me," Kagome raked a hand through her hair as she worried her lower lip in her teeth and tried to explain the rollercoaster of exhausting emotions re-tangling her aura, but at least they were all her own this time. "Now you turn around and tell me you picked out a perverted kitsune thief and pushed him in my direction because you like how he thinks?"

His smile was full of tender amusement as he reached up to take her hand out of her hair and smooth it back down, "I have had five hundred years to come to terms with thoughts of my own jealousy at another man being able to live out their entire life with you beside them. I do love you dearly, and because of that, I want only for you to be happy, Kagome. But I want you to have someone who can share themselves with you completely, and I was unwilling to risk leaving the search to chance. And so I decided to use my position for a worthy cause, since your Fate has been altered to keep you separate from us."

Kagome's eyes softened in understanding, "I can't die the way I should have." I can't follow anymore…

Miroku dipped his head in agreement, "I am dead, even if I have ascended, it does not change that truth. So it is time for you to move on and add another to your limitless affections. But as your first husband, and the head of our family, I intend to be certain the one you move on to has met my personal approval."

"Why Kurama?" Kagome couldn't help but ask, well aware that her eyes were likely showing off the depth of her confusion at that particularly choice.

Miroku arched an eyebrow in question, "You don't like him?"

"I didn't say that," her cheeks darkened with a deep blush, ducking her head shyly as her voice lowered to a murmur.

He took advantage of her averted eyes to smirk proudly over his selection, "He passed over the jewel's seduction once already, Kagome, something only Sesshoumaru has done before him. Sango and I want you to find someone that you are certain is with you for you. Not the jewel, and not for the memory of a lost love. He's familiar with our way of life, strong, pretty… and the choice to accept him or reject him is yours alone."

Kagome smiled to herself at the stern note that entered his voice, rolling her eyes even as she nodded and glanced up at him, "Aren't you worried that the only reason I like Kurama is that he reminds me of you?"

Miroku snorted, cupping her chin in his hand, "There are similarities between he and I, but there are even more differences. I have no fears that you are mistaking him for anyone other than himself when you are enjoying his company. His personality is too strong to allow any less."

"Point taken," she sighed and nodded, unable to refute that.

"And like I said… I like him," Miroku shrugged. "My instincts tell me that if the two of you do choose to be together, you will be good for each other. Not to mention, he wants to start a family."

Kagome stared at him incredulously and burst out laughing, "You brat! You just want to have more children from me!"

Miroku pressed his hand over his heart with a perfectly feigned look of surprise, "Children from you? My dear wife, they would be the children of another man, how could I possibly claim them as my own?"

She folded her arms over her chest, "Do you really think that's convincing?"

"Fair enough," he shrugged and made a dismissive gesture with one hand. "I'm certain you would have given me at least a dozen more children under natural circumstances. Not to mention you are very beautiful when you are pregnant, and you are an excellent mother. I wish to see you with children around you again."

"I swear you have a fetish," she snorted when his hand gently pressed to her stomach.

"I prefer the term fantasy," he pointed out with a wink.

Kagome chuckled, shaking her head at his semantics as she pulled her arms back to wrap around her stomach in a reflexive gesture at their topic. But a frown started to crease her brow as a niggling worry tried to make its way into her thoughts, looking up at Miroku to demand, "Did you influence him at all?"

"I made certain you were in the right place at the right time, sent Shippou that direction to turn Kurama's head, and made certain his eyes found you, but the rest was his own reaction," Miroku promised her with a smile, arching an eyebrow as he drawled out his observation. "You do like him, don't you?"

"Shippou hates him," Kagome's cheeks darkened yet again, trying to wave off her feelings under that protest and redirect his attention. "And I'm pretty sure Sesshoumaru would love to tear him in half and parade around with his head on a stick."

"Kouga?" he arched an eyebrow.

Kagome winced and blew out a regretful sigh, "Strike three."

Miroku ducked down to see her eyes, "You know what that means, don't you?"

"I'm sure it'll happen," the renewed laughter made her eyes sparkle as she fidgeted under his knowing look and finally swore under her breath. "All right… I'll admit I like him, Miroku! I like being around him. He makes me feel alive again, and after the well-"

"I understand," he murmured softly when her voice broke, steering away from that topic before her sadness could ruin the happiness he'd worked so hard to put back in her eyes tonight. "That's what you deserve, Kagome. But as much as I wish I could ignore what my life has become, I do not have forever to sit with you in my arms."

Kagome's hand snapped out, tangling in his kimono desperately when she translated the abrupt shift and rushed out, "Don't!" No, not when you just got here! Not when it's been so long!

Miroku sighed, against pressing his forehead to hers as he allowed a new wave of his own calming energy to sweep into her, draining the reflexive panic from her eyes and allowing her muscles to relax. As much as he didn't necessarily want to use such a tactic, his conscience would not allow any other action, "Happiness will come to you again, even if I dislike the idea of it coming to you from another. Yet, I wish to hear something before I run out of time… I may approve, and you say you like him, but is he truly healing your heart, my lovely Kagome? Is he good enough to win your love?"

Kagome's spine stiffened, opening her mouth to deny it when her eyes flashed and widened, lifting her hand in reflex, I… No. No, I couldn't be. "I-I barely know him," she stammered out quietly.

Miroku's smirk turned even more knowing, "Trying to lie to the god of deception is rather like trying to steal from a master thief, Kagome."

"My husband, the father of my children, is asking if the kitsune he picked out to romance me is having any success in making me love him," she stuck her tongue out at him over the pride that again had snuck into his voice. "I said it before, and I'll reiterate: this whole situation is weird."

"You gave birth to a bloodline that traces back centuries and extends not only throughout Japan, but at least three other continents," he retorted, grinning wider when she shot him a sour look. "Not to mention your time-hopping adolescence or your own less than human composition," he lightly tapped the center of the magical scars with his middle finger. "Our family's definition of normalcy certainly pushes the boundaries of most `human' creative fantasy."

"Suddenly I understand why Sesshoumaru hates it when I make sense," Kagome grumbled. "You're worse than he is with the `answer for everything,' you know. Yours are just more smartass in that subtle, so-called holy way you put on."

"I'm charming that way," he didn't miss a beat.

"Why did I say yes to you again?" she couldn't help but chuckle as she smacked him on the shoulder for his amusement.

"Because I am handsome and wonderful, and you love me from the bottom of your shining little soul," Miroku lectured with his most pious expression, ducking the next swat she aimed at his head with practiced ease. "You also could sense that I was an amazing lover."

"No wonder you like Kurama, you two really do think so much alike it should be a crime," Kagome rolled her eyes with a rather unladylike snort.

Miroku pressed his hand over his heart again and offered her a slight bow as best he could in their positions, "For all that the great Youko Kurama holds skill in the arts of seduction he is -after all- only youkai, while I on the other hand, am a great and powerful god."

"You're a great and powerful something all right."

"You wound me, my lovely wife!" his voice took on an over-exaggerated whine. "To say such things of your most loving and humble husband-"

"It's hard to take that seriously when your hand is still squeezing my ass, you know," she cut him off with a pointed look down to the appendage in question, giggling when he blinked in surprise as though completely unaware of the caress he'd been indulging in. "You really are a shameless pervert."

Miroku chuckled and shrugged, giving her a boyish smile, "You and Sango love me this way."

"Gods help us," she nearly choked on her amusement, easily seeing where Shinju had inherited most of his expressions.

"I am doing my best," he offered a cheeky salute, reminding her of his afterlife distinction, but just as quickly sighed wistfully and turned his gaze skyward. "I really can't stay much longer without drawing attention that I'd rather not have until everything is done. But soon…"

"Soon?" Kagome repeated curiously, biting her lip to stop herself from wasting these precious moments on unnecessary discussions.

Miroku shook his head, drawing her back against his chest so tightly that she had no doubt that he was thinking the same thing, "The time will come when I won't have to be afraid of bringing you to visit us, and we are impatient for it. Sango misses you as much as I do, but she thought you needed to hear from me this time. I needed to say these things to you so you knew that we do not find you to be dishonoring our memories by moving forward with this kitsune."

"You wanted to gloat that I fell for the one you wanted me to like," she wrapped her arms around him and inhaled deeply, drawing in as much as he allowed to warm her soul all the way to the core.

"You do know me so well," his chin rested against her temple, content to pretend nothing had changed just as long as he possibly could as well. "I wanted to hear you tell me that I have excellent taste."

"I'm sure Kurama would agree with that if he knew we were having this discussion," she smiled softly at feeling his ribs expand with arrogance and lifting to kiss him below the corner of his jaw. "But… he really is sweet. In that neurotic kitsune way."

"See? I know your type to perfection," he chuckled, lightly tugging her arm until he had her right hand in her lap, turning her palm up as the deep violet curls of magic tracked down his forearm to pool between them. "If there is anyone who could handle a kitsune of his caliber falling madly in love with them without going insane, it's you. He'll protect you, Kagome, and he will be a formidable opponent."

Kagome turned serious, searching his gaze with a sound of realization, "You know about the voice."

Miroku nodded, "I know everything that happens to you. I made certain of that when the realms were first separated, and we take the most serious of care to see to it that we are the only ones who are able to do so. No, it's not coming from Nasamura Reiko… So far, he is harmless even with the soul inside his body." We can only pray it remains so.

Kagome shivered, not at all surprised he had known what she was going to ask, and distracting herself by staring down at the energy gathering into a ball between their hands, "I thought I could look past faces, but that one-?"

Ah, but something inside you knows why you are still unsettled by him. Had Onigumo allowed himself to die rather than become Naraku, you wouldn't have been brought to the past, Miroku closed his eyes, keeping his knowledge to himself rather than see what he was certain would be horror on her face to know what he knew. You would have fallen in love and been his reward for penance, the reincarnation of the woman he wanted so badly. A reward he forfeited by opening his soul to such evil… Damn those fools for ignoring our orders.

It was her free hand coming to touch his face that snapped him out of his reverie, bringing his questioning gaze back down to her, "Miroku? Are you all right?"

He sighed deeply again and nodded, lowering the gathered energy to clasp her hand, focusing until he felt it solidifying into the familiar shape of his own sealing rosary, "There are ill winds blowing, my lovely wife, and it makes my soul ache to know that I cannot stand at your side the way I want to when you face the source. However… I can leave this of myself."

Kagome looked down when he pulled his hand away, brows lifting in amazement at the beads and even more the moment they pulsed and send a flood of power tingling up her arm, "I don't understand."

"Fate restricts what I can tell you, but not what I can arm you with in my efforts to keep you safe," Miroku's expression was somber as he loosely embraced her again. "Teach my sons the curse that became a blessing, my Kagome. Show them how to use our power, and it will allow us to be with you in spirit if you ever need our presence."

Her fingers curled over the rosary, knuckles turning white as she set her jaw and nodded in agreement, "Then it is true."

"I would never deny them the right to know their mother, and they asked to be reborn for you," his smile was fond at the memory. "Not that I was able to give them all their old memories, but in here-" he tapped a finger to her heart, "they know who they are, and who you are. They just wanted to be born early so they would be old enough to look after you and impress you."

Kagome lifted the rosary over her heart, not entirely sure what to say, They- they're my sons? Reincarnated.

"Sango is waiting to attack me and demand information about your condition," Miroku offered softly, the mellow tone easily portraying the words he didn't want to say as he reached out and rested his fingertips on his old shakujou. "And Sesshoumaru will grow suspicious if you do not return to your room soon. As much as I would enjoy reminiscing, the time required to do so is not something I currently possess."

She watched the deep glow permeate the ancient weapon, closing her eyes as her soul basked in the power flowing from him into it with the strength of his blessing, "Tell her how much I miss her, and that I love her."

Satisfied with his work when the staff hummed audibly at its reinforcement, the energy faded into it and settled as Miroku turned his full attention back to Kagome. Winding his arms around her, he pulled her forward and dipped his head to reverently cover her lips with his own and draw her into a gentle kiss to savor the sensations he had missed so very much.

Kagome could feel another rush of tears sneak out from under her closed eyelids at the poignant emotions welling up inside her, reluctant to let him go even as she felt his aura pulling away from her, expanding and reaching for the sky.

Miroku slowly rose to his feet, keeping a firm hold on Kagome to be certain she didn't slip out of his arms as he kissed a gentle path to her ear and whispered, "Give him a chance to make you happy, my lovely wife. If he will love you, let him take your heart. And if he hurts you, I will take his."

"You did always know just what to say to me," Kagome smiled up at him as he slid her down his body to stand her back on her feet, unable to resist kissing her one more time before he was pressing the shakujou into her hands. Taking in a shaky breath, she leaned into the gloved hand, kissing the center when the Kazaana had once cursed that smooth skin, "And if you and Sango approve of him…" I'll stop thinking I have to push him away when I want to be closer to him.

"Of course, you don't necessarily have to tell him that," Miroku winked at her as though sharing a great secret, drawing a new chuckle out of her even as she felt her heart aching. "Don't be afraid to let our family keep him in line. We like scaring men away from you."

"Kitsune don't exactly `scare,'" she reminded him.

"Then let us annoy him to death," he amended with a particularly wicked grin. "I've waited a long time to have this kind of opportunity."

Kagome blinked at him in disbelief before giving an exaggerated shudder, "Your poor daughters."

Miroku gestured casually with one hand, shadows curling up around him as his kimono slowly changed back into the robes he had worn in the past, reaching out to press his forefinger against the tip of the shakujou and trace it down to eye-level, "Their `poor husbands' would be more accurate, Kagome. Our daughters had three brothers, myself, Shippou, Inuyasha, Kohaku, Sesshoumaru, and Sango just waiting for the day someone took interest."

Kagome shook her head at the mental image, feeling a very real curl of sympathy for the poor boy brave enough to ask for marriage under those watchful eyes, "Of course you make Sango sound more dangerous than Sesshoumaru."

Miroku snorted, "You are well aware that she could be when our children were involved. I would have gone against the taiyoukai before I went against her in those circumstances, and she is my loving wife."

She couldn't help but chuckle softly, reaching up to press her own finger directly opposite his, "Some things never change."

He leaned forward to steal one last kiss, the shadows already rising to wind around him again, opening the path to return him to Reikai. His fingers traced along her jaw, reluctant to break contact as his eyes glowed into hers, letting his body undergo the subtle transformation to show her the otherworldly perfection he'd gained in death to see the appreciation in her eyes before letting the shadows take him away, "And some things do, my lovely wife."

<::………::>

Hiei wasn't entirely sure why he had felt so strongly compelled to go exploring in Makai as soon as he'd taken the edge off the gnawing hunger that had struck him so abruptly in the woods. Just like he wasn't sure what had compelled him to test his luck by tearing open the barrier into the same spot they reached inside the Western Lands the last time the guardians had prevented them from going any further into the eerie forests hiding those lands from curious eyes.

And yet…

The moment his feet had touched the ground a pulse had run through his soul, bringing him to his knees as the aura of the woods seemed to reach into him, wrap around him and hold him frozen in place. It hadn't been a painful sensation exactly, but something intense, and definitely beyond confusing. He could feel his strength alternately wane and rise inside his body with every beat of the strange ki moving through his soul. After several agonizingly long minutes, the feeling had begun to gather together at the base of his throat, burning outward from that single spot until his blood felt like it was on fire.

But just as quickly as the sensation had overtaken him, something seemed to snap and drag that heat back like a spiral until it vanished completely, leaving him drained and panting on the ground. Shocked, he had lifted one shaking hand to touch the spot that had seemed to focus all that energy, eyes widening in alarm when he felt the disruption in the feel of his skin. Precise lines, an archaic circle that sent whispers of subdued power and dark promises purring through his mind with every tiny symbol his fingers found etched around it.

It had been that moment, kneeling on the ground as his mind tried to process the mark that the pulse had come again. More defined in its presence and clearly filling his soul with a sense of belonging, of a connection with the auras of everything around him that went well beyond any energy he'd ever managed to tap into. Whatever the mark was and whatever put it there had wanted him to come here, to bond with the soul of the land, and make the signature vibration of his aura familiar to it.

The last thing Hiei had been expecting as he'd sat there, letting that bizarre sense of calm wash through him, was to suddenly find himself being flung backwards through the trees with bone-jarring force.

Disoriented, running on instincts alone, he'd dodged the next attack, blurring upwards to stare down in confused surprise at the massive white dog snarling up at him with murder in its scarlet eyes. His eyes narrowed and hand poised over the hilt of his katana, he'd regarded the youkai with a low growl of recognition as they sized each other up, Sesshoumaru.

The pulse had come again with his rush of adrenaline, pouring strength through him in a euphoric rush that very nearly brought a smile to his face when the next attack came and brought with it the excuse to test out the strange feeling. Even he had been surprised at his speed, then more at bright violet flame that curled around the blade of his katana as it struck flesh and tore a neat, superficial wound across that wide chest.

It had been strangely hypnotic, watching the blood arc high as he followed through, his body twisting to instinctively dodge the snap of teeth and return a counter-strike the youkai dodged with an agility belying his size. Holding himself there, their eyes locked and watchful for the perfect moment to spring when something about the other creature had brought a frown to his face. Something off…

But then the ki around them had all begun to pull towards the snarling dog, and he'd barely tensed in preparation when he found himself forced to either fall back or discover just what it felt like to be impaled on one of those gleaming fangs. His feet had just touched the branch he'd chosen to perch on when the youkai let out a deafening roar, slamming both front paws down hard enough to split the ground beneath its feet as the crescent gracing his forehead gave a blinding flash.

Hiei had been ill-prepared for the attack that followed, the torrents of wind that streaked across the ground separating them with all the speed of a striking cobra, tearing up the ground and trees in chunks as the energy unleashed burned them away to nothing. The first razor-sharp blades of wind had shattered the tree around him, forcing him to leap upwards or meet the same fate, only to play right into the hands -or paws, more accurately- of his opponent.

Still, with that foot slamming him towards the ground, he'd managed to work his sword back up underneath it, feeling the blade completely pierce flesh and glance off bone just as his back met the ground. The air was punched from his lungs as the dog kept the weight on that foot constant despite the injury, pinning Hiei down as his muzzle lowered, lips pulling back with the increasing volume of that deadly growl.

The jaws had started to open, probably readying the poison he'd shown them in the training chambers when a twist on his part managed to get his shoulders out from under those claws. And the instant he had, the growl came to an abrupt stop, the light dimming from those cold eyes as the youkai jerked his head up and cocked it to one side as though that single motion had just transformed the hybrid into a complete oddity.

Well, shit… You little fucking bastard, why didn't you just say you were family?

Hiei had frozen, eyes rounding as he stared up at the obviously disgruntled youkai looming over him, mind going completely blank to hear the foreign voice speaking so easily to him in such a way, That… This is not him.

Bringing him to where they were now… the odd almost-standoff as Hiei continued to stare up at the youkai still holding him down, although granted he didn't seem determined to crush him into the ground any longer. His eyes darted over the youkai's face, taking in the details he had passed over in the far more pressing issues of attack and defense. Whoever this youkai was, he was smaller, but definitely more solidly built than the taiyoukai. And while the fur was exactly the same, there was only one set of jagged stripes angling up its face, and even more damning…

The telltale crescent was backwards.

Who the hell are you? Hiei's brows snapped together trying to hide the sudden rise of smug excitement building in his chest. This is it! This is how they do it! Does Sesshoumaru have a son posing in his place?

"HIEI!"

Both of them started at the shout echoing across the landscape, Hiei twisting awkwardly to look for the kitsune he knew owned that voice while the youkai's face schooled back into a threatening growl to turn on the new intruder. He was expecting the snap of the whip, smirking slightly when the dog shot backwards to avoid it with his head low to the ground and his injured foot curled in protectively.

"Hiei, are you all right?" Kurama's voice was concerned, slanting him a look as he took up a defensive stance beside the sprawled hybrid before turning his full attention back to the growling youkai. "Dammit, Sesshoumaru, what is the meaning of this!? We had your word!"

"It's not him," Hiei responded blandly before the fire that rekindled in the dog's eyes could blossom into an angry attack. Unsure of how he read that emotion, Hiei tried to brush it aside as he gingerly rose to his feet, checking to be certain nothing was broken before flicking a casual chiburi and sheathing his sword. Nice timing, Fox, he was about to tell me who he was.

`You ungrateful shit, see if I ever put myself in danger for you again!' Youko rounded on him with a snarl of his own before spitting out a few more crude insults and ignoring him in favor of the youkai watching them with open annoyance. `What the hell-?'

You're supposed to announce yourself before you send out a wave like that, idiot, Hiei blinked in surprise at the censure in youkai's voice and turned his full attention back to him as he continued. What were you trying to do? Get eaten? I thought you were issuing a challenge for Kagome. And what the fuck did you bring a kitsune avatar for? Who do you-?

The youkai trailed off, the dawning comprehension lighting his eyes almost comical as he suddenly sat back and let out a bark of laughter that had them both clapping their hand protectively over their ears.

Hiei! What did you say to him? Kurama demanded in a hiss, wincing as his skull throbbed in time with the vibrations of the ground under their feet.

Don't look at me, I didn't do anything! he glared right back at him for making the suggestion. One minute he's trying to bite my head off, the next he's snarling and insulting me, and now he's laughing about you.

Me?

`Us?' Youko wasn't sure whether to be insulted or curious, pursing his lips as he fidgeted inside their soul and finally settled on an ambiguous growl. `Us… laughing about what? And how do you know that?'

He's talking to me, Hiei tapped his pinkie against his forehead to indicate the mental discussion, unwilling to take the buffer of his palms away from his ears until the raucous sounds had died down to a less painful level. And if that's his idea of laughing, I'm glad he's using a-

Sonofabitch, he really is a little pretty boy, isn't he? the laughing remark interrupted and snapped Hiei's gaze right back up to the youkai who still appeared to be fighting to keep his amusement under control. No wonder Sesshoumaru's got a stick up his ass over him.

Then you know who we are? Hiei prodded suspiciously, clenching his jaw as he tried to figure out just how much he could pass on to Kurama without breaking his agreement with Sesshoumaru when he wanted his answers now more than ever.

Who doesn't? the snort was strong enough to send debris blowing past them as he dipped his head to lick at his sluggishly bleeding paw. It's not every day an avatar saunters his ass up to the Western Lord and announces that he's Kagome's lover. He turned a momentarily baleful glare on Kurama and expanded his contact, Thanks, by the way, fucking prick put his hand through my gut working off his temper-tantrum.

I'm starting to see a pattern, Hiei remarked dryly.

He has a nasty habit of that, the youkai shrugged. Now what are you doing here? And when did you get tagged? I thought Sesshoumaru had you boys on a leash to make sure there weren't any accidents.

Tagged? Hiei went right back to scowling, sneaking a quick look at Kurama and brushing his mind to see if this youkai was excluding him.

Think you're rubbing your throat for your health?

Kurama was instantly forgotten as Hiei turned to stare up as the dog lifted it's chin, letting a circular symbol flash once below his throat to show it beneath the thick fur and drying blood. Understanding had his eyes widening as something inside him gave off a heavy pulse in answer, twinging through his heart and bringing his hand instinctively to cover the aching scar.

Now, what happened? Was Kagome hurt? the rumbling voice took on a darker edge, an open threat as his claws dug into the soil and his teeth pulled back in a dangerous snarl. How did you get involved? Why hasn't Sesshoumaru told me about this? Fucking hell, it was that swarm, wasn't it? I knew I felt her soul pass the barrier!

Kurama's gaze slid back and forth between Hiei and this new youkai who looked nearly identical to Sesshoumaru, jaw tightening with slowly mounting fury when he realized he'd been cut out of their conversation again. Especially with being unable to hear what was getting the inu so riled up that his ki was visibly sparking off him while Hiei was looking more and more like someone had just hauled off and back-kicked him in the gut.

`Why the fuck is he talking to Hiei?' Youko growled out, pacing angrily as he sought an outlet for all the unwanted emotions bottling up inside them. `And why the fuck isn't he talking to us? We just saved that bite-sized asshole's life and he's tuning us out like we're some sort of pathetic human?!'

At least now we know why Koenma never thought Sesshoumaru left his lands, Kurama started to count very deliberately, forcing their temper under control before they did something stupid like kill both the youkai being so glaringly disrespectful to him. Or rather, killing them before he figured out what the fuck was going on.

`Probably a son,' Youko flicked a dismissive gesture. `He's got that damned empty thing too, so I can't smell to be certain, but the appearance is too close. More importantly, how did Hiei get here when the last time we tried we were nearly cut in half, and why are all these bastards suddenly paying attention to him?'

Sesshoumaru said that she'll recover in two days, Hiei found himself answering, watching with a sort of detached fascination as he felt the fury of this youkai pouring through him at the mere suggestion Kagome had been injured. But then… hadn't he felt the same thing? Frowning, he reached up and pressed the heel of his hand against the Jagan, trying to stem the growing headache, It… it was only a few hours ago in the Ningenkai. She helped me, but then the taiyoukai knocked me out. I don't know what happened until I woke up in the main house, but he was holding her when I left. She was sleeping.

He hates to share, the edge slowly softened until the youkai's expression had softened back into relative calm. Deep-seated childhood issues, you know.

Hiei's lips twitched, more convinced this youkai was closely related with the thick mockery entering his voice, Who are you?

The youkai ignored that question again, his eyes back on Kurama as he felt the overlapping ki spiking higher for every passing minute, Gods, it really is a kitsune thing? And here I always accused Shippou of just being an attention whore.

Kurama jolted at the sudden return of that voice, his own flashing gold at the insulting way he was being selectively drawn in, What is it with our lover and arrogant bastard inu youkai?

What can I say? She's a dog person, his lips pulled back in a grotesque facsimile of a smile. But you… you don't belong here, not yet.

The anger drained out of him in an instant at those last two words, curiosity and a tiny flame of excitement blooming deep in his mind, "What do you mean by that?"

You're presenting, jackass, he rolled his eyes. You're supposed to be impartial, and that means this is off limits. Shit, didn't those idiots tell you anything?

"Obviously not," Kurama muttered under his breath, eyes gleaming suspiciously as he glanced at Hiei and narrowing when the hybrid shrugged to show his own lack of understanding.

Yeah well, not my problem, the youkai rose to his feet, flicking his tail out with enough force that the trees were nearly uprooted around him. Just get the hell out of my lands or I'll have to eat you, and trust me, kitsune is not my favorite flavor.

`Oh hell no,' Youko growled low in his throat. `He is not going to try and brush us off after he just openly showed us that he knows why they're being so damned strict about us!'

"What are they not telling me?" Kurama demanded when it seemed as though the inu really was going to just up and leave without saying another word.

You're a smart breed, he tossed back over his shoulder with a wicked smirk. You figure it out. Besides, how the fuck would I be able to tell if you're good enough to stick around if you can't get past one little snag like Sesshoumaru? You didn't actually expect I would let just anyone get close to Kagome, did you?

Kurama pulled back in surprise at the deadly serious note filling those words, the insinuation that this creature somehow held the most control over Kagome's final decision. Blinking in disbelief as even Youko fell silent to peer more intently at the creature watching them over his broad shoulder, Kurama's eyes narrowed and he murmured out quietly, "Who are you?"

The youkai smirked, letting out a snort of amusement over Kurama's reaction as he turned away and started back the way he'd first come, If you want that piece of information, tell Kagome I'll make sure my last rampage looks like a tea party if she doesn't get her ass down to see me. She'll know who I am.